This gold star gets you aboard planes and in federal facilities

Sat, Jan 25, 2014 @ 7:30 pm

Dear Call Box: When renewing my car tags last month, I was told that starting in 2015, anyone that did not have a gold star by their driver’s license number would not be able to enter a federal building or board a plane. I have one, but I am concerned that this is not public knowledge and should be better advertised. Can you verify?

P.W., Live Oak

Dear P.W.: It is true that Florida motorists will be required to have the gold star, but it will be 2016 at the earliest, said Duval County Tax Collector Michael Corrigan. Florida was one of the first states to start implementing the Real ID federal law, which requires the gold star as a security measure, Corrigan said.

Congress passed the act, designed to keep terrorists from getting driver’s licenses, in response to the 9 /11 attacks. It sets more stringent identification requirements.

To renew your Florida driver’s license in person, you must bring one document to prove your identity, such as your U.S. passport (valid and unexpired), birth certificate (original or certified copy), or certificate of naturalization. You also need one document to prove your Social Security number, such as your Social Security card, W-2 form or paycheck (if you don’t have a Social Security card, bring a driver’s license or ID card from any U.S. state or territory, a school record showing your date of birth and the registrar’s signature, or marriage certificate, among other possibilities); two documents to prove your Florida residency, such as your Florida voter registration card, W-2 or 1099 form, Florida vehicle registration or title, deed or mortgage. A current driver’s license or ID card may not be used as proof of residential address. For more detailed information, visit www.gathergoget.com.

If your license doesn’t come up for renewal before 2016, you still will be able to travel by plane or enter a federal facility.

If your license is lost, stolen or you legally change your name through marriage or divorce before it expires, then most drivers will have to get a replacement featuring that gold star on the upper right side. There are some exceptions, Corrigan said.

But the change has created controversy over privacy issues and whether it creates a national ID card, according to various Internet sources. Supporters say it could help crack down on illegal immigration and make it harder to steal identities. Opponents say it won’t make the country safer, imposes unfunded mandates on states and gives the government personal information that could be misused. Some states are fighting the government on those grounds and have not implemented the act.

Dear Call Box: I am new to Jacksonville and searching for a social bridge club. There is one club that I tried to reach, Les Finesses, but was unsuccessful. Can you help.

R.B.

Dear R.B.: Most social bridge clubs already have their membership set and have been playing together for some time, said Terrye Mosley, vice president of Les Finesses, established in 1989. Membership is by invitation, she said. Sometimes the social clubs use substitutes, who are members of other clubs or not members of any club.

“That is one way to get your foot under the table,” Mosley said.

For more information, Mosley said to call Marion Gregory at 645-7780. Gregory is a member of the American Bridge Association. Bridge also is frequently played at area senior centers

Another popular form is duplicate bridge, for which groups are open, Mosley said. If you can play regular bridge, she said, you probably can play duplicate, the main form of competitive bridge. It is called duplicate because the same hands are played at each table.

There is a Jacksonville School of Bridge at 3353 Washburn Road in Jacksonville Beach that offers classes, games and tournaments. The number is (904) 223-3837. Founded in 1993, it attracts players of all experience levels, according to its website at jacksonvillebridge.org. The website refers to it as a full-service club that offers standing weekly and monthly games, arranges partnerships and has lecturess.

-------------------------------------------------------------- Calling an illegal alien an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a drug dealer an 'unlicensed pharmacist'

1920 points

Pseudorandom

Sunday, January 26, 2014 @ 12:51 pm

What is really funny about this whole "Real ID" system is that it's based on easily created or forged documents.

One of the pieces of ID you have to produce is a Passport. What does it take to get a passport? A drivers license and/or birth certificate. So there's some circular reasoning going on right at the outset.

Present a Soc Sec card? Unless they have changed drastically in the past few years, a very real-looking SS card can be made by anyone having just rudimentary Word or Photoshop skills.

The same goes with a birth certificate. As far as the "raised seal" goes, you can get virtually any kind of raised seal from any number of places (both locally and on-line), no questions asked. And it can say virtually anything on it since the raised impressions are difficult to read (something the typical govt employee would definitely not do).

This whole Real ID thing is just another useless, money wasting act in our governments on-going play of "security theater".

WHOA! This is beyond scary as big brother continues its reach in privacy rights under federally mandated "national ID".

Adding a gold star to a "real ID" is done under the premise of "safety" to keep illegal aliens and terrorists from duplicating drivers license? So we are to believe someone that means to do harm cant add a gold star to their forged ID?

REALLY?

This is a direct correlation to the Jewish people having to wear stars on their clothing so they could easily be identified.